Upper East Regional Museum

Ethnographic museum located in Bolgatanga, northern Ghana, dedicated primarily to exhibiting objects and photographs of various historical sites in the region such as the Tongo Hills in addition to ethnic groups such as the Frafra and Tallensi.
Upper East Regional Museum
Photo by Omar Hamdi
Type: Ethnographic Museum
Country:
Ghana
Establishment: 1991

The Upper East Regional Museum is an ethnographic museum located in Bolgatanga, northern Ghana, dedicated primarily to exhibiting objects and photographs of various historical sites in the region such as the Tongo Hills in addition to ethnic groups such as the Frafra and Tallensi.

History

The museum was established on its present site in 1991 by the Ghana National Commission on Culture.[1] In 1999, the museum launched a photographic exhibition about the cultural sites around Tengzug located in the Tongo Hills.[2] In addition, the museum has also collaborated with the University of Ghana and Manchester to document ethnographic material of the Tallensi communities living in the region, among them the Nyoo Shrine, used for ceremonies related to agriculture, after excavations near the shrine found recumbent stones dating back to the 11th century AD.[3]

Collections

The museum has exhibits found in ancient furnaces located in Zandoya which is part of the Tongo Hills, after a series of excavations were moved tuyeres, artifacts used for the conduction of air for the operation of furnaces for metallurgy, these are intended to control the temperature for the smelting of metal.[4] In addition, the museum displays exhibits from Frafra communities, who settled mainly in the Bolgatanga District within the region.[5]

Upper East Regional Museum Image 1
From right to left, various hunting tools such as bows and arrows, in addition to traditional musical instruments including a flute made of corn and a rattle made of calabash. (2023) - Photo by Edem Anyomi
Upper East Regional Museum Image 2
Sculptures found at burial sites settled by Koma communities in northern Ghana, including terracotta sculptures dating from around the 15th to 17th century AD. (2023) - Photo by Edem Anyomi

References

  1. Mawuli, G. (2022-06-29). Upper East Regional Museum refurbished: Facility reopened to public. Graphic Online.

  2. Kankpeyeng, B. W., Insoll, T., & MacLean, R. (2010). Identities and Archaeological Heritage Preservation at the Crossroads: Understanding the Challenges of Economic Development at Tengzug, Upper East Region, Ghana. Ghana Social Science Journal, 7, 87–102. ISSN: 0046-5925

  3. Fagan, B. M., & Durrani, N. (2020). In the Beginning: An Introduction to Archaeology. Routledge. ISBN: 978-1-351-75767-6 (Page 569)

  4. Insoll, T., MacLean, R., & Kankpeyeng, B. (2013). Temporalising Anthropology: Archaeology in the Talensi Tong Hills, Northern Ghana. Africa Magna Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-937248-35-6 (Page 144)

  5. Amoako-Hene, K., Nortey, S., & Bodjawah, E. K. (2022). Museums in Ghana: Visitor Education, Experiences and Satisfaction. International Journal of Cultural and Art Studies, 6(2), Article 2. ISBN: 2654-3591 DOI: 10.32734/ijcas.v6i2.9056 (Page 121)

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